Flow control valve



Oct. 24, 1961 H, A SEELE 3,005,616

FLOW CONTROL VALVE Original Filed Aug. 27. 1956 Z6 J i 50 a5 45 Z9 Z6 Z412 1 a0 6 1a 19 17 Z1 Z3 J2 x Q 31 Z Q 5 31 /IIM.

INVEN TOR. fizz 040 A. 5EELE Stats atent 3,005,616 Patented Oct. 24,1961 1 Claim. (Cl. 251-46) This invention relates to a valve forcontrolling flow of water in an irrigation or sprinkling system and itis an object of the present invention to provide a solenoidcontrolledvalve that is particularly efiicient for controlling flow in suchsystems.

This application is a division of my pending applicatiOn, Serial No.606,258, filed August 27, 1956.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of the characterreferred to that operates on pressure differential on opposite sides ofa diaphragm and to embody in said valve a solenoid-actuated valve stemprovided with an eifective and novel seal that enables light actionforces to be applied to said valve.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such A means that arepositive in operation, easily installed in a working nected therefrom,tively simple, ability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description. However, the drawings merelyshow and the following description merely describes one embodiment ofthe present invention, which is given by way of illustration or exampleonly.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts inthe several views.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a flow-controlling valveaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged detail views of portions of FIG. 1, showingthe valve in a diflerent position.

The control valve that is illustrated comprises, generally, a body 5 toconduct flow between an inlet 6 and an outlet 7, a shut-01f valve 8controlling said flow means 9 to operate the shut-01f valve 8, and avacuum breaker 10 to prevent reverse flow between said inlet and outlet.The inlet 6 and outlet 7 are connected in a flow line which said valvecontrols.

The inlet 6 is provided with a collar or annular valve seat 11 thatextends into the body 5, the latter being closed by a cap plate 12between which and the body is disposed a flexible diaphragm 13. Betweenthe cap plate and diaphragm is formed a pressure chamber 14 that isdisposed above and in alignment with the inlet collar 11. Thecylindrical wall under the collar 11 serves as a dividing wallseparating the interior of the body 5 between an inlet chamber withinthe collar 11 and outlet chamber surrounding it.

Above the outlet 7, the body 5 is provided with a flow diverter 15 thathas a lateral inlet end 16 and an upwardly directed outlet 17. Above thelatter outlet, the cap plate is provided with an open valve seat 18,said seat and outlets 17 and 7 being substantially vertically aligned.The diaphragm 13 is provided with an enlarged opening 19 that allowscommunication between the interior of the valve body and the openingdefined by valve seat 18.

The shut-off valve 8 is carried by the diaphragm 13 in line with collar11 and comprises a flange 20 on the side of the diaphragm toward chamber14, a hub 21 extending from said flange through the diaphragm, and a nutconvenient in use, position and easily disconeconomical of manufacture,relaand of general superiority and servicenice 22 on said hub on theopposite side of the diaphragm. Said hub is provided with a centralorifice 23 of bleeder size, the same being provided in an invertedconical wall 24 that defines an upwardly facing depression or cavity 25.

The shut-oil valve 8 further includes a body 26 extend-. ing upwardlyfrom cap plate 12, the same being formed with a central passage 27, analigned counterbore 28, and a lateral opening 29, all in directcommunication. Said passage 27 opens into chamber 14 and a valve disc 30is interposed, the same being carried by the body 26. A valve stem 31 isdisposed vertically in said passage 27 with ample clearance, the lowerend of said stem being provided with a conically shaped valve end 32that controls the aperture in valve disc 30.

Since the pressure chamber 14 is capable of receiving liquid from theinlet 6, the same passing through orifice 23 and, said liquid, afterentering passage 27 (when stem 31 is depressed), may seek its wayupwardly, although such liquid vvill drain through opening 29 andoutwardly through tube 33, the counterbore 28 is fitted with a rubberseal 34 that is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Said seal is provided with acentral stem-gripping hub 35, an outer annular bore-filling flange 36and a connecting flexible web 37. Thus, regardless of the endwisemovement of stem 31, the seal 34 will effectively intercept liquid inpassage 27 and prevent the same reaching the valve-operating means 9which, in this instance, is electrical. In its operation, .the web 37not only flexesbetween the two positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, but thehub 35 of the same frictionally grips stem 31 and yet allows the same tobe moved endwise with a sliding movement through said hub.

A spring 38, between an abutment plate 39 above the seal 34 and anenlargement 40 on stem 31, biases said stem in a direction to cause thevalve end 32 thereof to close the aperture in disc 30.

The valve-operating means 9 is shown as a magnetic core 41 extendingupwardly from body 26 and surrounded by a coil 42. A frame 43 mounts apivoted armature 44 that is subject to the magnetic flux generated incore 41 when the coil 42 is electrically energized. Normally, spring 38,in holding the aperture in valve disc 30 closed, holds the upper end ofstem 31 projected somewhat above the upper end of said core. Whenattracted to the core against the bias of spring 45, the armature 44will depress said stem and open said orifice to flow from pressurechamber 14 to drain 33.

Normally, the diaphragm 13 is engaged with the end of the collar 11 andthe flow is arrested by said diaphragm because the total pressure on thediaphragm on its under side, is that of the area of the inlet, while thetotal pressure on the upper face of the diaphragm is that of the largerpressure chamber 14. Said chamber receives its pressure through orifice23 and the same is retained because the valve end 32 is biased to closevalve disc 30.

To institute flow between inlet 6 and outlet 7, the coil 42 isenergized, causing depression of stem 31 and venting of pressure chamber14. Upon such release of pressure from the top face of the diaphragm,the pressure in collar 11 is effective to move the same to the openposition shown. This position is maintained so long as the coil 42remains energized because the vent or drain 33 remains open.

Flow is stopped by de-energizing coil 42 to allow the spring 38 to biasthe stem 31 and its valve end 32 to closed position. Now, as thepressure in chamber 14 builds up through flow past orifice 23, thepressure on the upper face of diaphragm 13 increases. Since there is asubstantial pressure drop between the pressure on the under face of thediaphragm directly above the inlet and on marginal portions of saiddiaphragm, the total pressure on the upper face will eventually becomegreater than the total pressure on the under face and the diaphragm willmove to flow-stopping position.

The vacuum breaker 10 comprises a valve disc 46 that is provided with aresilient valve ring 47 adapted to en'- gage the valve seat 18 frombeneath. Said disc is guided by a pin 48 carried by a hood or cover 49in which openings 50 are provided, the same opening the valve seat toatmosphere.

a When valve 8 is closed, disc 46 falls by gravity onto diverter outlet17. Thus, any back flow from outlet 7 will apply its pressure to theupper side of said disc 46 to press the same closed and prevent suchback flow from entering inlet 6. Valve seat 18 and openings 50 willdrain such back flow, if excessive. When valve .8 is opened, the flowfrom the inlet will enter the diverter 15 and unseat disc 46, moving thesame upwardly so that the valve seat 18 is engaged by valve ring 47.Now,

' the flow may enter the outlet 7.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is nowcontemplated'to be the best mode of carrying .out my invention, theconstruction is, of course, subject to modification without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. It is, therefore, notdesired to restrict the invention to the particular form of constructionillustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fallwithin the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

In a fluid valve of the pressure-operated diaphragm type with adiaphragm having a central opening therein, a pressure chamber, ableeder valve to vent said chamber and having opening movement in adirection into the chamber a diaphragm hub for occupying such adiaphragm opening having a flange and adapted to receive a nut forclamping the diaphragm between the flange and the nut around thediaphragm hub, the hub having an inverted conical wall therein with acentral orifice of bleeder size, the conical wall defining an upwardlyfacing depression facing said chamber and in register with the bleedervalve to provide a conical cavity for allowing movement of the bleedervalve thereinto when the fluid valve is'open.

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